Key-board attachment for musical instruments



(Nb Model.)

0-. P. MEYERING. KEY BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented Sept. 15, 1885.

1 l i a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. MEYERING, OF ROCHESTER, NFAV YORK.

KEY-BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,444, dated September 15, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it 72mg concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. MEYERING, of Rochester, Monroe county, New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Attachments for Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the device attached to the front of a piano. Fig. 2 is a plan of the roller developed as a plane surface, and showing the musical characters thereon. Fi 3 is asectional view, showing the means for joining the parts of the roller. Fig. at is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of the fixtures for attaching the roller to the piano. Fig. 5 is a similar view, but showing a modification. Figs. (3 and 7 are perspective views of the plate and shouldered catch for securing the fixture to the piano.

My improvement relates to what are known as hand-rests for pianos, being mounted over the front of the piano, and designed to hold the hands in the constrained position necessary to produce good work by the fingers. Such devices have been before known.

My invention consists in the combination of a roller, upon which are printed or otherwise marked the various musical characters necessary to use in instructing the pupil, said roller also serving as a hand-rest, and fixtures of peculiar construction used at the ends of the roller for sustaining the roller, adjusting its position, and allowing it to turn, all as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, A shows the roller, which is mounted in fixtures over the front of the piano, and extends along in front of the keys over as many octaves as desired. The roller is made in three sections, 1 2 3, and these sections are connected by tenons and sockets a a, as shown in Fig. 3. By this means, when the roller is not in use, the sections can be separated aud packed compactly in a box or other receptacle. On the surface of the roller is printed or otherwise marked the various niusical characters and matter necessary for the instruction of the pupil in practice, as shown in the diagram Fig. 2, which is a plan of the roller spread out on a flat surface. These characters stand in proper relation to the keys. and by simply turning the roller on its axis any part of the musical matter can he brought to the top, where it can be readily seen. This is a very great convenience, as it is simpler than abook, and, in addition to this, the roller forms the desired hand-rest, to keep the hands in proper position for good fingering.

The roller is attached to the front of the piano by the following means:

13 is a straight bar having at its front end a shouldered catch. 2), and at its rear end a eireular enlargement, c, that forms a segment on the under side.

0 is a thin plate, having a rectangular slot, f, said plate being secured by screws to the top of the front edge of the piano, and serving as the device for attaching the arm B. On the under side of the plate 0 are two square-edged shoulders, d (l, standing on opposite sides of the center, and one in front of and the other back of the slot. The bar is att ehed by turning it so that the shouldered catch 1) will enter the slotf. Then by'turning the bar half way round the shoulders of the catch will strike under the edges of the slot crosswise, and the bar itself will strike the shoulders d (Z, which preventitfrom turning further. So long as held in this position the bar cannot get detached.

D is an arm provided with a longitudinal slot, through which passes a set'screw, h, fastening it to the segment 0. A slot, k, is made through the segment concentric with the screw and through this slot passes a headed bolt,on which screws a thumb-nut, m, on the opposite side from the head of the screw h. Iii the top of the arm D is an open slot, or, forming the bearing for the axis of the roller to rest in and turn freely. The roller has attached to its end a circular disk, 1;,which rests outside of the slotted end of the arm D, and holds the parts together. Two of these fixtures are used-one at each end of the roller and the disks 1) p, by resting outside of the arms D D, prevent the latter from swinging out of place. The arm D can be adjusted up or down to raise or lower the roller to the desired position; or it can be swung in or out, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 4, to

carry it nearer to or farther from the keys. The two screws h on secure the arm so firmly at two different points of attachment that the roller cannot get displaced from the weight that rests on it.

In some instances it may be desirable to use a clamp, in which case the device shown in Fig. 5 is employed. The bar 13 is provided with a stilt depending slotted arm,(},on which slides a clamping-arm, H, secured at any desired position by a set-scre\v, r. In the inner end of the clamping arm is a set-screw, s, which screws up against the underside of the front of the piano, ashoulder, v, on the inner end of bar B resting on top of the front edge of the piano.

By the use of a roller made in sections and provided with the musical characters and matter on its surface, and capable of revolving, as above described, the pupil has, in addition to a convenient hand-rest, the exercises directly under his eye, and the matter of practice is greatly facilitated, besides which the hands are forced to keep the constrained position necessary for good fingering.

The attachment is such that the roller can be readily attached or detached, and can be held in firm and secure position.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In an attachment for musical instruments, the roller A, made in three sections connected together end to end,and its surface printed or otherwise markedwith the musical characters and other matter necessary for instruction in practice, as herein shown and described.

' 2. In an attachment for musical instruments, the combination of a roller made in three sections having the musical characters marked on its surface, and provided at its ends with the disksp p, and the fixtures for connecting the roller with the piano, consisting of the bar B and slotted supporting-arm D, the bar provided at one end with the shouldered catch I) that tits in a plate, 0, of the piano, and at the other end with a segment, 0, to which the supporting-arm is attached by the two screws /t m, as herein shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

3. In an attachmentfor musical instruments, the fixture consisting of the bar B, the vertical supportirig-standard D,thestit1dependingarm G, and the clampingarm H,as shown and de scribed, and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. B'IEYERING.

Witnesses:

EMIL RErsKY, ALBERT H. M nYERINe. 

